KIA Rio. The Izhevsk hatchback is retiring.

KIA Rio. Izhevsk hatchback is retiring

It seems that this hatchback from Izhevsk — a twin brother of the Hyundai Verna sedan — will soon go into well-deserved retirement, making way for a new model. But it will definitely stay in the memory of many for a long time. Not to mention the garages of those lucky ones who managed to get a version with the 1.6-liter engine of Korean assembly. When Rio production was launched at IzhAvto, such an engine had to be forgotten — buyers were offered only a 1.4-liter unit with 97 horsepower, like the Verna. It is exactly this modification that we got for a test.

What do you want from me?

Only a city dweller crawling in traffic jams through congested streets will get a kick out of this car. The automatic transmission tries its best, but every acceleration is hard for it. Shifts are smooth, no extraneous sounds in the cabin. Just don't even think about flooring the gas pedal — the car pretends to be dead, as if asking: "What do you need from me?"

And yet, at intersections, this little one turns out to be noticeably more agile than the "Zhiguli" cars scurrying around. And most importantly — it has air conditioning (or rather, even climate control), an automatic transmission, and an interior that, although trimmed with gray plastic, looks quite pleasant. In addition, there is an onboard computer and a warning system that reminds about unfastened seat belts. True, it works strangely — it only turns off after a complete stop, and also requires the engine to be turned off.

Its element is the city

In fact, apart from the overly stiff suspension, the car has almost no serious drawbacks. After many tests, getting into the Rio from more expensive cars and having the opportunity to compare it with a bunch of other vehicles, let's be honest: the machine is decent. There is no feeling of inferiority that appears in the Daewoo Matiz, Nexia, or Taganrog Accent. Nothing creaks, doors close as they should, all parts are fitted at a decent level. The engineers took care of convenience — there are cup holders and compartments for small items. The steering wheel is easily adjustable for height. The upholstery is non-marking, and the material is easy to clean. Sound insulation is at a good level — extraneous noises appear only after 120–130 km/h. But the Rio is not a racer, but a typical city dweller.

What you'll have to get used to is the unusual speedometer markings — up to 120 km/h, the divisions are very dense and shifted to the right. But speeding is immediately noticeable, which involuntarily makes you obey the rules. The Rio has perfect visibility. With any seating position, the driver feels the front dimensions well. The hatchback's trunk is in no way inferior to the sedan's, although the body is 25 cm shorter. And if you fold the rear seatbacks, the car turns almost into a station wagon. Even without folding the seats, a suitcase and a couple of bags will fit in the trunk.

Rear passengers are not cramped — three can be seated. Comfort is largely ensured by the almost flat floor, like on KIA SUVs.

Rio likes to eat

Having stated that the Rio is a car without flaws, we were hasty. The first drawback is inflated prices, the second is too high fuel consumption, even if it's 92-octane, as with most Koreans. 11.7 liters in the city for a 1.4-liter engine is simply a disaster. Modern two-liter engines consume the same amount.

Again about money. The tested instance costs 486,140 rubles (approximately $17,000), which is too much for a budget subcompact with such an engine. And if you add an automatic transmission to the climate control, you'll have to pay another $1,240. For ABS — another $930. As a result, it comes to 534,000 rubles. For comparison: a fully loaded Verna will cost 452,900 rubles. In general, for a B-class hatchback, this is too expensive. Maybe that's why only 17,000 KIA Rios were sold in Europe for the entire 2007? There, prices start from 11 and go up to 18 thousand euros, and a used 3-5-year-old car can be bought for 4–5 thousand.

Dmitry Shavyrin

We thank the Avtomir Strogino dealership for providing the car for the test.

Specifications

Source – AUTOMANIA.RU